Shanda Trent

I must still be a kid, because I love picture books! My love of reading started at the bookmobile in my tiny town of Cannonsburg, Michigan. Sure, I graduated to chapter books, YA and adult novels. Picture books remain my first love.

I have worked with young children for 30 years. So I have read thousands of picture books--to my own daughters, to small groups of toddlers and preschoolers, and classrooms of elementary children. I know what kids love, and what brings them back to a beloved book again and again.

I personally have been drawn to books in verse. I used to write parodies in verse as a child and teenager. Don't be afraid when I tell you that the voices in my head speak in rhyme. But only when I am writing. Though sometimes that is in the car. Or the shower. Or grocery store.

And that brings me to my first published picture book, Farmers' Market Day. This book started as a grocery list, years ago when my kids were young. Once a teacher, always a teacher, I made the most of the learning experiences out in the world. The grocery store was prime teaching territory. The story moved venue to the Farmers' Market, one of our favorite hangouts in Ann Arbor.

I have several other quirky, funny picture book manuscripts making the rounds. I hope you'll follow my progress, and share in my love of picture books, especially those I've written!